Hey! Thanks for your output on this one; I see that it’s been a year so it might not be as fresh for you but I’d like to add my brief thoughts since I’ve recently finished it. Firstly what struck me most were the laugh out loud moments. Absolute absurdities perfectly captured through dialogue between characters and Heller’s prose: the witless anxieties of Cathcart, Major Major Major Major’s tragic arc, Milo Minderbinder’s irresponsible shenanigans, I mean the laughs are endless-at least they were for me. And then of course there’s the contrast between the laughs and the absolute gut wrenching sadness. The Snowden pay off at the end was beautifully tragic: “The spirit gone, man is garbage” Before that Yossarian is walking the streets of Rome and the scene is a Kafka nightmare as he ruminates of the broken unjust world ravaged by an “ingenious and unscrupulous handful”. Also it’s a wonderful repository of rich vocabulary. The fact that he repeats so many of the same words makes it easy to commit them to memory. Overall it’s a perfectly crafted story and one that I will always be reading. Again, thank you for putting yourself out there.
Hey!! Woah, this is great, thank you! I think I will definitely plan to reread this novel in the future and I’ll keep your comment in that back of my mind because you’re definitely on to something!
Girl am sitting here hearing your thoughts and opinions. You nailed some pretty important points and brought up smart facts. that i am about to through my laptop into the wall. No but goddamn you nailed this book quite well. Jesus Christ you done a brilliant job!
Excellent review. Thank you! I haven't read this since high school, but you've prompted me to return to it again in the near future. For what it's worth, the term "gaslight" became popularized after the 1944 U.S. film "Gaslight," based on the 1938 play and 1940 U.K. film of the same name. Not to spoil too much, it is a psychological horror/drama about a husband who tries to isolate and drive insane his wife in which actual household gas lights play a role. The wife is played by Ingrid Bergman, only a couple of years after her turn as Ilsa in "Casablanca," the husband is played by Joseph Cotton, of "The Third Man" fame, and they are joined by Angela Lansbury in her film debut.
Thank you Richard! YES! I knew the term came from a movie, but I couldn't remember which movie and when. I love a good old psychological thriller - I may need watch it!
I hated it until the last third. I just kept reading cause it’s supposed to be good. I just finished reading animal farm and catcher in the rye and there are a lot of interesting parallels between the three. Probably why you read them around the same time in high school
You certainly got more out of this book that I did. My only burning question was: is it over yet? I also hated the repetitiveness of it all... about 450 pages too long. If you want good foundational dystopian books, I strongly suggest Brave New World (and the follow-up Revisited). Still relevant, and perhaps we are living it now. FWIW, just yesterday, I donated "Something Happened" to the local library for a book sale. It left my hands unread.
LOL! This book is definitely too long. Shame on his editor hahah. I haven’t read that one yet! 👀 Yeaaa I don’t think I’ll be reading Something Happened. Someone who’s opinion I trust told me it wasn’t worth it hahah
Ahh I read this in high school and I remember half of the boys in my AP class cracking up over Yossarian 🤣🤣 I will have to reread it, at some point, bc your discussion has piqued my curiosity again. Thank you for bringing out the themes, that was SO interesting! As you mentioned, it reminds me quite a bit of 1984. Thank you again for the awesome book discussion, Alana!! 🤗
LOOOOL I mean, I giggled over Yossarian too - he's a hot mess and a trip with no luggage.😂 Yay! I'm glad you like my discussion on this one - it's definitely one of those books that demands your attention and takes a bit more effort. Yes, this has a lot in common with 1984!
Hi Alana - thanks for a fascinating video. I read this so long ago (so long that I managed to get Heller himself to sign my copy!) but I remember it so vividly and loved it (one of my all time top fifty). I’m sure I missed quite a lot of what you discussed and it struck me how you made it sound so relevant to the 2020s - I think society was much more naïve in 1962. I also remember it being very funny in parts. The sequel was called Closing Time and seemed to me to be a late afterthought so I never read it. Something Happened is a very slow book in which little happens and there’s a great discussion of it on the wonderful Backlisted podcast (which I think you would love).
Thank you! That’s very cool that Heller signed your copy! There are so many nuggets in this one - I’ll definitely need to read it myself in the future. The 2020s have defiantly been eye-opening. I read 1984 in 2020 and it was beyond eerie. Backlisted Podcast sounds familiar - I’ll have to check it out.
I have this one on the shelf and am excited to read it, just not sure when lol. I wish I could be paid to read my tbr 🙂 Sounds like I'll enjoy it. great review!
I read Something Happened. It has a shocking ending that doesn't quite make up for the slowness which precedes it. Glad you enjoyed Catch-22. I did too.
@@alanaestelle2076 tbh, if you want an American classic from that time period, try the Rabbit books. There are 4 in the series, and I suppose the 2d is best, tho they're all good.
omgosh this classic is on my TBR i just need to mentally prepare myself as i found classics are a hit or miss for me (hits: animal farm and 1984, misses: lord of the flies and portrait of dorian gray). i find that classics are always still important to read as it's a reflection of society at the time and it's interesting to see if the commentary still applies in modern times.
Yea, this is definitely one of those classics that you have to read when you're in the mood to read it, or else it might drive you crazy. I really need to reread Animal Farm and Lord of the Flies. I love Dorian Gray, but I do understand why it's a miss for a lot of people; it's convoluted HAHAHA Yes, so true! That's why I love the classics - the themes are often timeless, even if the delivery can be a bit dated, at times. Minus Dostoevsky - I think he can do no wrong🤣
Thank you for the thoughtful and intelligent review! I also found the book a bit of a slog to get through but I'm glad I read it, definitely worth it for the exploration of the themes involved. Have you seen the 1970 movie? It's...interesting. Definitely has an impressive cast, but it's probably an impossible novel to adapt, and the movie seems to prove it. There was a more recent Hulu miniseries that I might check out as well. I believe the sequel is Closing Time - no plans to get to it, but there is a good interview that Heller did when it came out: th-cam.com/video/QstwCRbBkR0/w-d-xo.html
Thank you so much!! It is a bit slow to get through but you’re right, worth the read! I haven’t seen the movie and I don’t know there was a Hulu miniseries - granted I don’t use Hulu haha. Thanks for sharing!
Whoa girl! I just bought this the other day and I don't think I'll be ready to read this for awhile... I'm too black pilled right now.😂 And....PREACH!!!!
![“อ.เบียร์ คนตื่นธรรม” มาตามคำเรียกร้อง แหกศาสตร์ฮวงจุ้ย เตือนสติอย่างมงาย | แฉ 7 พ.ย. 67 [1/3]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5fc4S3xBNfc/mqdefault.jpg)
Hey!
Thanks for your output on this one; I see that it’s been a year so it might not be as fresh for you but I’d like to add my brief thoughts since I’ve recently finished it.
Firstly what struck me most were the laugh out loud moments. Absolute absurdities perfectly captured through dialogue between characters and Heller’s prose: the witless anxieties of Cathcart, Major Major Major Major’s tragic arc, Milo Minderbinder’s irresponsible shenanigans, I mean the laughs are endless-at least they were for me.
And then of course there’s the contrast between the laughs and the absolute gut wrenching sadness. The Snowden pay off at the end was beautifully tragic: “The spirit gone, man is garbage”
Before that Yossarian is walking the streets of Rome and the scene is a Kafka nightmare as he ruminates of the broken unjust world ravaged by an “ingenious and unscrupulous handful”.
Also it’s a wonderful repository of rich vocabulary. The fact that he repeats so many of the same words makes it easy to commit them to memory.
Overall it’s a perfectly crafted story and one that I will always be reading.
Again, thank you for putting yourself out there.
Hey!! Woah, this is great, thank you! I think I will definitely plan to reread this novel in the future and I’ll keep your comment in that back of my mind because you’re definitely on to something!
Girl am sitting here hearing your thoughts and opinions. You nailed some pretty important points and brought up smart facts. that i am about to through my laptop into the wall. No but goddamn you nailed this book quite well. Jesus Christ you done a brilliant job!
Thank you so much!!
Excellent review. Thank you! I haven't read this since high school, but you've prompted me to return to it again in the near future.
For what it's worth, the term "gaslight" became popularized after the 1944 U.S. film "Gaslight," based on the 1938 play and 1940 U.K. film of the same name. Not to spoil too much, it is a psychological horror/drama about a husband who tries to isolate and drive insane his wife in which actual household gas lights play a role. The wife is played by Ingrid Bergman, only a couple of years after her turn as Ilsa in "Casablanca," the husband is played by Joseph Cotton, of "The Third Man" fame, and they are joined by Angela Lansbury in her film debut.
Thank you Richard!
YES! I knew the term came from a movie, but I couldn't remember which movie and when. I love a good old psychological thriller - I may need watch it!
I hated it until the last third. I just kept reading cause it’s supposed to be good. I just finished reading animal farm and catcher in the rye and there are a lot of interesting parallels between the three. Probably why you read them around the same time in high school
I really need to reread Animal Farm. I reread Catcher in the Rye since school and hate it with a passion LOL.
You certainly got more out of this book that I did. My only burning question was: is it over yet? I also hated the repetitiveness of it all... about 450 pages too long.
If you want good foundational dystopian books, I strongly suggest Brave New World (and the follow-up Revisited). Still relevant, and perhaps we are living it now.
FWIW, just yesterday, I donated "Something Happened" to the local library for a book sale. It left my hands unread.
LOL! This book is definitely too long. Shame on his editor hahah.
I haven’t read that one yet! 👀
Yeaaa I don’t think I’ll be reading Something Happened. Someone who’s opinion I trust told me it wasn’t worth it hahah
Ahh I read this in high school and I remember half of the boys in my AP class cracking up over Yossarian 🤣🤣 I will have to reread it, at some point, bc your discussion has piqued my curiosity again. Thank you for bringing out the themes, that was SO interesting! As you mentioned, it reminds me quite a bit of 1984. Thank you again for the awesome book discussion, Alana!! 🤗
LOOOOL I mean, I giggled over Yossarian too - he's a hot mess and a trip with no luggage.😂 Yay! I'm glad you like my discussion on this one - it's definitely one of those books that demands your attention and takes a bit more effort. Yes, this has a lot in common with 1984!
Hi Alana - thanks for a fascinating video. I read this so long ago (so long that I managed to get Heller himself to sign my copy!) but I remember it so vividly and loved it (one of my all time top fifty). I’m sure I missed quite a lot of what you discussed and it struck me how you made it sound so relevant to the 2020s - I think society was much more naïve in 1962. I also remember it being very funny in parts.
The sequel was called Closing Time and seemed to me to be a late afterthought so I never read it. Something Happened is a very slow book in which little happens and there’s a great discussion of it on the wonderful Backlisted podcast (which I think you would love).
Thank you! That’s very cool that Heller signed your copy! There are so many nuggets in this one - I’ll definitely need to read it myself in the future. The 2020s have defiantly been eye-opening. I read 1984 in 2020 and it was beyond eerie. Backlisted Podcast sounds familiar - I’ll have to check it out.
I need to reread Catch 22. I remember loving it, but I've changed a lot since 2007.
you have a very soft voice and a clear elocution. it's a pleasure to listen to your review.
Thank you so much!
This is an excellent video. Thank you!
I have this one on the shelf and am excited to read it, just not sure when lol. I wish I could be paid to read my tbr 🙂 Sounds like I'll enjoy it. great review!
Yea, this is one of those books that you have to read when the urge hits haha. LOL yes! I wish we could get paid to read!
I read Something Happened. It has a shocking ending that doesn't quite make up for the slowness which precedes it. Glad you enjoyed Catch-22. I did too.
I think I'll wait until I'm feeling patient enough to read Something Happened, then haha.
@@alanaestelle2076 tbh, if you want an American classic from that time period, try the Rabbit books. There are 4 in the series, and I suppose the 2d is best, tho they're all good.
Loved that the character of Milo was basically the living embodiment of rampant capitalism
Ha! A lot of things are rampant in this novel LOL
💚 thanks 22 billion times Joseph 💚
I read it years ago. I don’t think I caught most of what I should have, and do have plans to read it again soon!
Definitely one of those books that demand to be read multiple times!
omgosh this classic is on my TBR i just need to mentally prepare myself as i found classics are a hit or miss for me (hits: animal farm and 1984, misses: lord of the flies and portrait of dorian gray).
i find that classics are always still important to read as it's a reflection of society at the time and it's interesting to see if the commentary still applies in modern times.
Yea, this is definitely one of those classics that you have to read when you're in the mood to read it, or else it might drive you crazy. I really need to reread Animal Farm and Lord of the Flies. I love Dorian Gray, but I do understand why it's a miss for a lot of people; it's convoluted HAHAHA
Yes, so true! That's why I love the classics - the themes are often timeless, even if the delivery can be a bit dated, at times. Minus Dostoevsky - I think he can do no wrong🤣
Great review, thanks from Blighty !
Thanks for watching!!🙌🏼
Great book and review. 1984, 451, bnw... read banned books
Halfway through the book. Both Movie and tv show are good.
You should mention character names, like Milo... Nately... etc...
Gaslight was a 1944 movie.
I need to watch it!
Thank you for the thoughtful and intelligent review! I also found the book a bit of a slog to get through but I'm glad I read it, definitely worth it for the exploration of the themes involved.
Have you seen the 1970 movie? It's...interesting. Definitely has an impressive cast, but it's probably an impossible novel to adapt, and the movie seems to prove it. There was a more recent Hulu miniseries that I might check out as well.
I believe the sequel is Closing Time - no plans to get to it, but there is a good interview that Heller did when it came out: th-cam.com/video/QstwCRbBkR0/w-d-xo.html
Thank you so much!! It is a bit slow to get through but you’re right, worth the read!
I haven’t seen the movie and I don’t know there was a Hulu miniseries - granted I don’t use Hulu haha.
Thanks for sharing!
Whoa girl! I just bought this the other day and I don't think I'll be ready to read this for awhile... I'm too black pilled right now.😂
And....PREACH!!!!
LOL I need you to explain the term "black pilled" to me. I've never heard it!
You're picking up what I'm putting down!
Nothing can be done to save the dumpster fire we're living in. That attitude. ... given up on everything. Lol
@@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD I feel this in my soul. Like at this point we can just flood earth again 🤣
Yessss!! Come any time Jesus! Are you standing up yet?? Lol
@@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD whew preach! Come beam me up, Lord 🤣🙌🏼